Nikon SB-600 Review

The Nikon SB-600 is a budget version of the SB-800, for the reduced price, you loose power, some accessories, and the Master/commander function. Other then that the SB-600 shares allot of features from its big brother the SB-800. One of the most important features is the wireless I-TTL capabilities. Altough at reduced power, the SB-600 is still usable in multiple flash set-ups. If you do allot of small product shots, the SB-600 might be the flash for you.

Specifications

Type: Shoe mount flash

Guide No: 98' (30 m) at 35mm Position

Angle of Coverage:73° to 23° (24 to 85mm in 35mm format)114° (14mm) with included wide angle adapter

Key Features

TTL Auto Flash with many film SLR's, including the Nikon F5, F100, F80, F75, F65 and FM3A

Manual Flash

Bounce Capability

Flash head tilts up to 90 degree

Flash head rotates horizontally 180 degree to the left or 90 degree to the right

I-TTL

Intelligent i-TTL system supports Advanced Wireless Lighting and versatile functions for up to 3 remote i-TTL speedlight groups, either controlled through a master SB-800 or with the "Commander" function of the D70, D200, D300 and D700

Modeling Flash

Allows photographer to preview lighting effects

FV Lock

Flash Value Lock allows photographers to change the composition or zoom for the shot while maintaining desired lighting of the subject

Improved Safety

Safety lock on flash shoe

Positives

Wireless flash. The wireless possibilities that you get with the new Nikon flashes is great.

Flash have never been easier.

Lock on the flash shoe.

Build quality.

Drawbacks

Manual, The manual is less helpful at times, and you will find that you get ordered around in the manual quite a bit when you are looking for stuff.

Low battery. There should be a low battery/remaining battery meter on the flash.

External connections. No external battery or flash connections.

LCD illumination. can be hard to see.

Steel base on the flash shoe, I would rather damage the flash shoe on the flash, then the shoe on the camera, something that would be allot more expensive to fix. Trust me on this one, I bent the shoe on my D3 badly after geting hit by a snowboarder.

Verdict

The SB-600 is a lightweight SB-800, to decide in between the two flashes, it pretty much comes down to your needs.If you need a Master/commander flash, you will need a SB-800, SU-800 or a Dslr with a commander mode on it.. If your work is mostly small product shots, the SB-600 will be sufficient enough for you. I currently have 2 SB-800`s and 1 SB-600 that I use regularly. One thing you realize pretty fast is, that you need more flashes, it seems Nikon have created an addiction here. Only major drawback is figuring out the manual, which has more information than you need. I have written a quick-start guide on how to set up wireless flash, so you don't have to read thru the 90 page long manual. Setting up wirless flash using Nikon CLS equipment

Features Performance Build Value

Purchasing items through these links helps me adding more content to this website. The links takes you to B&H's website, which is my recommended store to get equipment from. I've used B&H personally since 2005, and I get all my equipment from them these days(including the lenses used for these reviews). Thanks for your support, Fredrik.